It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…- Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities (1812 – 1870)
Call me Ishmael. – Herman Melville, Moby-Dick (1851)
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. – Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice (1813)
Familiar? These are the first lines from some of the world’s best-known stories. We’re always told we have only one chance to make a good first impression, and there’s so much truth in that statement.
Leah Braemel and I have decided to do a two-part blog post. Today, I’m taking a look at first lines from some of the offerings from Samhain. I’ve expanded it to be the first line+, but the concept is the same. Tomorrow Leah will give us the final word from authors.
From the ten stories listed here, how many first lines can you match with the Author/book? Before you go surfing!
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1. Gregor Faustin knew his mother was up to something. Her expression was suspiciously complacent— cream fed, even.
2. Alexa shifted her convertible into fourth gear with the steady confidence of a
seasoned racer.
3. “I have one final task for you. Do this, and your family’s blood debt will be repaid.”
4. EXT. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — DUSK
5. “What is your ultimate sex fantasy?” Heath filled the shot glasses with Jose Cuervo.
6. 6450 calories stared up at Robyn.
7. “Dump him,” Connor Regan told her. “I’ll make you happy in ways you never
thought possible.”
8. She ran. The earth flew under her feet, moving so fast it was nothing but a blur of greens and browns.
9. A deep reverberating thrum filled Jodi Tyler’s chest and stroked the back of her
throat with its raw promise of latent power.
10. He was a glutton for punishment. Blade had no other explanation for coming to
Tough Bodies Gym.
Inferno by Bianca D’Arc
Private Property by Leah Braemel
Nice and Naughty by Jayne Rylon
Tasting Candy by Anne Rainey
Wolf Signs by Vivian Arend
Crux by Moira Rogers
A Question of Trust by Jess Dee
Tequila Truth by Mari Carr
My Fair Monster by Lila Dubois
Bound by Blood by Evie Byrne
How did you do? ?
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Vivian Arend is right now headed into the back country of British Columbia ‘researching’ another book. Or it might be called ‘taking a family vacation and wondering why it has to involve so much vertical incline’.
Next Tuesday the results of a previous family vacation/research trip releases at Samhain. If you want to know what a couple of trips to the coast inspires, check out Tidal Wave.
You can visit Viv at http://vivarend.blogspot.com/
I got 6 out of 10 before I saw your list. Then I realized I’d read 9 of those stories. lol
I only got 4 of the 10. LOL. BUT I have to say, you’ve piqued my interest as some of these first lines certainly make me want to read the book. Cool blog idea!
Oh, and thanks so much for including Tequila Truth on the list!
Only three out of seven.
But damn, its a nice feeling when you realize you know the line!
(Hmm, it’s even nicer when your first line is quoted.)
Jess
Oh, very cool post BTW.
Off to read Leah’s right away.
Back from another get away and I wanted to give you the answers!
1. Gregor Faustin knew his mother was up to something. Her expression was suspiciously complacent— cream fed, even.
Bound by Blood by Evie Byrne
2. Alexa shifted her convertible into fourth gear with the steady confidence of a seasoned racer.
Nice and Naughty by Jayne Rylon
3. “I have one final task for you. Do this, and your family’s blood debt will be repaid.”
Inferno by Bianca D’Arc
4. EXT. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — DUSK
My Fair Monster by Lila Dubois
5. “What is your ultimate sex fantasy?” Heath filled the shot glasses with Jose Cuervo.
Tequila Truth by Mari Carr
6. 6450 calories stared up at Robyn.
Wolf Signs by Vivian Arend
7. “Dump him,” Connor Regan told her. “I’ll make you happy in ways you never thought possible.”
A Question of Trust by Jess Dee
8. She ran. The earth flew under her feet, moving so fast it was nothing but a blur of greens and browns.
Crux by Moira Rogers
9. A deep reverberating thrum filled Jodi Tyler’s chest and stroked the back of her throat with its raw promise of latent power.
Private Property by Leah Braemel
10. He was a glutton for punishment. Blade had no other explanation for coming to Tough Bodies Gym.
Tasting Candy by Anne Rainey